Book Reviews: Back Again

It's been awhile, so let's look at some of the books I've read since I made a proper post:

The Family Romanov by Candace Fleming

This book recounts the fall of the Tsar and his family, while also giving context with personal accounts of the horrible state of the common Russian people and of the rise of Lenin and his followers. 

It's hard not to feel a bit sorry for Tsar Nicholas in places, but it's also impossible to not judge him as a poor ruler who let things get out of hand. A tragic history piece, though I'm left with the thought that if the more moderate replacement government had succeeded and not lost power to the communists, if his family had not been brutally killed, if we would have much sympathy at all for them, any more than we do King George of England after the American Revolution. 

The Port Chicago 50 by Steve Sheikin

Sheikin, known several other good YA history books like Bomb, writes about a little talked about part of American history: 

During World War 2, at a time when the Navy was segregated, one of the few jobs African American sailors could get was tasks like loading ammunition. They weren't properly trained however, and a deadly explosion left many dead or injured. 50 then refused to go back to work and thus were charged with mutiny. 

This tells the story of the trial of these men, but also the story of the fight to desegregate the Navy. Thurgood Marshall plays a large role, but the story here isn't entirely fulfilling. The men never really get complete justice. Still, a great work for highlighting a little known piece of history.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Ultimate Collection Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird

I'm going through the original Mirage comics of TMNT. It's a fun romp of two young artists with a chance to take a crazy concept and pour their love of Jack Kirby, Star Wars, and even Dave Sim with a suprise crossover with Cerubus. As a fan of the TV show, I'd heard about how 'dark and gritty' these turtles are but I have to say, while there is some casual swearing, violence, etc, nothing is out of the PG-13 range and most stories seem to be about an even mix of drama and humor.

These are king size versions with massive pages that play well with Eastman and Laird's love of giant splash page battles, and the commentary after each issue is enlightening.  Great fun for fans old and new, be sure to check it out.